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J. ZIMMERMAN & F. L. WHITE. LAMP FOR GENERATING AGETYLBNE GAS.

No. 600,847. Patented Mar. 15,1898.

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J. ZIMMERMAN 8v F. L. WHITE.

LAMP FOR GENERATING AGETYLENE GAS.

No. 600,847. Patented Mar. 15,1898.

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J GEN ZIMMERMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,AND FREDERICK L. WHITE, OF WVATERBURY, CONNECTICUT; SAID WHITE ASSIGNOR TO SAID ZIMMERMAN.

LAMP FOR GENERATING ACETYLENE GAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 600,847, dated March 15, 1898.

Application filed June 18, 1897.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JOHN ZIMMERMAN, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, and FREDERICK L. WHITE, residing at Waterbury, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, citizens of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lamps for Forming and Burning-Acetylene Gas, of which the following is a specification.

The object of our invention is to provide a simple, economical, and efficient lamp for generating and burning acetylene gas; and the invention consists in the features, combinations, and details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a vertical sectional elevation of a bicycle-lamp constructed in accordance with our improvements, taken on line 1 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig.2, a vertical sectional elevation of the same, taken on line 2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 3, a cross-sectional plan View taken on line 3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 4., an enlarged view of the valve-actuating mechanism and other parts hereinafter described; Fig. 5, a side elevation of the tube for delivering gas from the generating to the liquid chamber; Fig. 6, an enlarged plan view of the valve-seat hereinafter described, and Fig. 7 an enlarged view of the valve in the waterchamber shown in the upper part of Figs. 2 and 5.

In describing and illustrating our improvements we prefer to describe them in one form as embodied in a bicycle-lamp, though we do not desire to be limited strictly to this type of lamp other than as the elements are set forth in the claims.

In constructing a lamp in accordance with our improvements we make a receptacle A, preferably cylindrical in contour and which is provided with a generating-chamber 0t, in which a piece of carbid of calcium 0t may be inserted for the purpose of decomposing water and forming acetylene gas. To the receptacle A we preferably secure a second part B, also cylindrical in contour, but arranged Serial No. 641,352. (No model.)

at right angles to the plane of the first receptacle and which forms or provides the liquidholding chamber 6. This receptacle is connected with the generating-chamber by means of a curved tube C, which is opened at its lower end 0 and closed at its upper end by means of a puppet-valve 0, so that pressure on the water may be equalized that is, the pressure of the generating-chamber is allowed to pass into the liquid-chamber.

Heretofore in structures of this class where tubes, pipes, or channels have been used to convey gas under pressure to the liquid-holding chamber a check-valve has been used which only operates in one direction--viz., the direction of the liquid-chamber-so that gas may flow therein. This is objectionable, however, in that if the gas overflows into the liquid-chamber at a high pressure it closes the water-feed valve and keeps it closed, thus preventing the normal action of the apparatus. .To overcome this difficulty, we easily fit the puppet-valve 0 upon its seat, so that it will be tight enough to prevent water which might overflow and pass into the generatingchamber, but easy enough to permit a backflow of gas whenever necessary to equalize the pressure. This puppet-valve c is shown in the enlarged view of Fig. 7, in which the tapered valve portion 0 is roughened, as shown in the figure, so that the gas may easily pass back or raise the same to feed it into the water-chamber through the opening 0 At the same time the water caused by splashing when contacting this valve cannot flow easily or readily into the generating-chamber.

To feed the liquid or water in the desired quantities to the generating-chamber, we provide a partition B, that separates the liquidchamber from the generating-chamber, with a valve-seat b. We next provide the upper part of the liquid-chamber with a diaphragm D and secure to it in any convenient manner a valve-rod D, which is provided with a circular ring portion, upper projecting threaded portion (1, and lower projecting valve portion d, the operation being such that as the gas under pressure enters the liquid-chamber and exceeds a predetermined pressure the diaphragm is raised and-the opening in the valveseat closed to prevent the flow of water into the generating-chamber.

To regulate the tension on the diaphragm and the predetermined pressure at which the valve shall be closed, we provide a helical coiled springE and insert it'between the upper cap portion E of the casing and the diaphragm. The upper threaded portion of the valve-rod is provided with an adj usting-nut e and a second adjusting lever-nut e, so that the tension of the spring may be regulated, the lever-nut being of such construction that it may be readily turned to open or close the valve whenever it is desired so to do and prevent the further inflow of water until the lever-nut has been turned to release the same.

It is desirable at all times to be sure that the liquid reaches the carbid. In order to insure this,we provide the base portion of the generating-chamber with a central upper projecting pin a and the upper portion of the generating-chamber with a funnel F, so that as liquid flows down from the liquid-chamber it will flow down the funnel and pass through the central portion thereof to contact the carbid, thus always insuring, no matter what position the lamp may be in, the feeding of water to one common point. The neck of the funnel is preferably perforated and may be provided with a piece of absorbent material f, such as sponge, to gradually permit the inflow of water and prevent sudden and rapid formations of gas.

In order to embody our improvements in a bicycle-lamp in as economical a manner as possible and make the lamp efficient from a commercial standpoint,we provide the liquidholding receptacle with a transverse central conical wall G, that forms a portion of the reflector, the end 9 being cup-shaped in a manner to focus the rays of light, while the front portion is provided with a lens G for directing the rays of light in the desired manner. The rear part of the reflector is perforated to admit of a burner H being passed therethrough, which burner is provided with a feed-pipe h, leading to the generating-chamber, and with a valve h to close or open the passage in the burner, as desired.

To feed liquid into the liquid-holdingchamber, we provide one side of such chamber with a threaded opening in which is fitted a sealing-plugl, which may be removed whenever desirable to furnish such chamber with a supply of water.

In operation the receptacle A is removed from the body of the lamp and a ring of carbid a placed therein. It is then restored to its original connection with the body of the lamp, and the sealing-plug we remove from the liquid-receptacle. A supply of water is then furnished the annular liquid-chamber and the lever-nut 6 turned around once, so as to permit the helical spring to depress the diaphragm, valve-rod, and feed-valve. This furnishes a limited supply of water to the generating-chamber and forms a quantity of gas which flows through the curved equalizing-tube G into the liquid-chamber above the water, thus equalizing the pressure on the water, raising the diaphragm, and closing the valve until a quantity of the gas is used out of the generating-chamber. When such gas has been used, a quantity of the gas in the liquid-chamber will flow back through the supply-pipe, lowering the pressure in the liquid holding chamber, so that the diaphragm may again lower and open the liquidsupply valve to furnish water to the generating-chamber, and thereby allow the generation of a fresh supply of gas.

The circular valve-rod, which is passed around the reflector port-ion, is made hollow and the upper portion provided with a safety puppet-Valve having a helical coiled .spring Z0, adjusted by means of a nut, so that when pressure in the generating-chamber exceeds a safety or predetermined point this puppetvalve will open and permit the excess of pressure to escape.

While we have described our invention with more or less minuteness as regards details and as being embodied in certain precise forms, we do not desire to be limited thereto unduly any more than is pointed out in the claims. On the contrary, we contemplate all proper changes in form, construction, and arrangement, the omission of parts and substitution of equivalents as circumstances may suggest or render expedient.

We claim- 1. In a lamp for generating and burning acetylene and similar gases, the combination of a receptacle provided with a generatingchamber in the lower portion thereof and a liquid-holding chamber above the generatingchamber, a feed pipe or passage connecting the liquid and generating chambers and valve mechanism arranged thereon to permit the passage of gas either way and prevent the flow of water therethrough, substantially as described.

2. In a lamp for generating and burning acetylene and similar gases, the combination of a receptacle provided with a generatingchamber in the lower portion thereof and a liquid-chamber above the same, a partition dividing the chambers and provided with a valve, a diaphragm in the upper portion of the liquid-chamber, a valve-rod connected with the diaphragm and the valve for opening and closing the same, and a pipe or passage connected with the generating and liquid chambers and provided with a valve to permit the flow of gas in large quantities one way and in small quantities the other way and prevent the flow of water therethrough into the generating-chamber, substantially as described.

3. In a lamp for generating and burning acetylene gas, the combination of a receptacle provided with a generating-chamber in the lower portion thereof, a receptacle above the same provided with an annular liquid-cham IIO her-the inner walls forming the reflectors of the lamp, and means for automatically feeding the Water into the generating-chamber, substantially as described.

4. In a lamp for generating and burning acetylene gas, the combination of a receptacle provided with a generating-chamber in the lower part thereof and an annular liquidchamber above the same the inner walls of which form a portion of the reflector, a valve in the wall between the generating and liquid chamber, a diaphragm in the annular chamher and connected with'the water-valve to actuate the same by the pressure in the liquidchamber, an adjustable tension-spring for furnishing the desired pressure to the diaphragm, and with the pipe and valve mechanism for furnishing gas under pressure to the liquid-chamber and allowing it to return therefrom and prevent the return flow of water therethrough, substantially as described.

5. In a portable lamp for forming and burning acetylene gas, the combination of a receptacle having a generating-chamber in the lower portion thereof and an annular liquidcharnber above the same the inner walls of which form a portion of a reflector, a waterfeed valve in the partition which separates the chambers, adiaphragm in the upper part of the liquid-chamber, a hollow rod connected with the diaphragm and water-valve to open acetylene gas, the combination of a receptacle provided with a generating-chamber in the lower portion thereof, a receptacle above the same provided with an annular liquid-chamber-the inner walls forming the reflectors of the lamp, means for automatically feeding the water into the generating-chamber, and a funnel in the generating-chamber inter posed between the liquid-feeding valve and lower portion of the chamber to feed the water to one common point, substantially as described.

7. Ina lamp for generating and burning acetylene gas, the combination of a receptacle provided with a generating-chamber in the lower portion thereof, and a receptacle above the same provided with an annular liquidchamber-the inner walls of which form a portion of reflectors of the lamp, substantially as described.

Witnesses:

THOMAS F. SHERIDAN, F. H. GERRODETTE. 

